Thankful, by bestselling and award-winning children’s author Eileen Spinelli, combines charming rhymes and whimsical illustrations to convey the importance of being thankful for everyday blessings. Like the gardener thankful for every green sprout, and the fireman, for putting the fire out, readers are encouraged to be thankful for the many blessings they find in their lives. Spinelli exhibits her endearing storytelling with this engaging poem, reminding children how blessed and special they are. Meant to be read aloud, this heartwarming picture book will be a treasured keepsake for parents and children alike.

Contributor(s)

Eileen Spinelli , Archie Preston

About the Contributor(s)

Eileen Spinelli

Eileen Spinelli is a poet and picture book author with a talent for lovable stories that tug at the heart. She is the author of more than forty books for children, including Heat Wave, When You Are Happy, I Know It’s Autumn, Thanksgiving at the Tappletons’, Sophie’s Masterpiece, and Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch. Ms. Spinelli lives in Wayne, Pennsylvania.

UPC

025986000882

ISBN-10

0310000882

ISBN-13

9780310000884

Publish Date

Sep 1, 2015

Weight (lbs)

1.4250

Height

10.25

Width

8.00

Length

32

Length Unit

Pages

Publisher

Zonderkidz

Price

$16.99

Format

Hardcover

Language

English

Customer Reviews

Review by InkBlotsbyTRD.blogspot.com

Overall Rating

Thankful is a sweet children's picture book, written by Eileen Spinelli and illustrated by Archie Preston.

Throughout Thankful, the idea of thankfulness is paired with what a particular person in a career (or hobby) might be specifically thankful for. (For example: a doctor is thankful for patients who are well.) I thought this was a sweet way to talk about the idea of thankfulness and make it personal. With the ending of the book (sorry, spoiler alert!) it says "I'm ever, so thankful...for you!" - so this would make a perfect book to give as a gift.

The illustrations in Thankful are cute and a little bit quirky. It reminds us of the illustration style of Quentin Blake, which our family loves. The illustrations seem to follow a brother and sister (pictured on the cover) as they "act out" the different vocations that are talked about in the text. The illustrations brought giggles out of my 6 year old, who read this book to me.

All in all, I think that is a fantastic book to share with the little ones around you.

FTC Declaration: The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy. This does not change the fact that I will give my honest opinion in my reviews. (Posted on 11/24/2015)

Review by Jalynn

Overall Rating

Oh my gosh! Such a sweet precious book that is sent straight to the heart. With perfect rhythm and rhyme the author has created a most precious book full of thankfulness and how different people are thankful for different things. This book is the perfect book to use to teach your children all about being thankful and it's just in time for Thanksgiving.

This was the ideal book to read to my little 5 year old munchkin right before I introduced him to the idea of a thankful tree that our family makes each Thanksgiving. He enjoyed it and I'm sure your child will, as well. Created specifically for ages 4-8.

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review through my participation on the Z Blog Squad. (Posted on 10/22/2015)

Review by Fitzysmom

Overall Rating

One of the Thanksgiving traditions that we have in our family is to go around the table and express what we are thankful for before partaking in the meal. I've always delighted in the quirky and unconventional things that my children and now my grandchildren come up with. But doesn't that capture the true essence of thankfulness?

It's easy to be thankful for the big major things like food and shelter but it's just as important to be thankful for the everyday ordinary things as well. As you read through this book with your little ones you'll be reminded about those things too!

I'm not sure which part of this book I'm more enamored with, the words or the illustrations. Eileen Spinelli has used her wonderful knack with rhyming verse to create a whimsical story that captures the thought process of a young child. Archie Preston and his eccentric illustrations are the perfect fit for this delightful story about a family's thankfulness.

Eileen Spinelli and Archie Preston make an absolutely delightful team and it is my hope that they will join up again and again to bring all of us books that are sure to be read over and over.

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review. (Posted on 10/18/2015)

Review by The IE Mommy

Overall Rating

We all want kids that are Thankful and appreciate what they have in life. It's hard in this world not to grow up unappreciative and entitled. I see it in kids all around and pray that mine won't end up like that. It is my job to teach them thanks as it isn't something that usually comes naturally.

Thankful is a simple little book with a big message; to remember to be thankful. It talks about all different people in their individual professions and what they are thankful for. These are things many people take for granted and not huge things. It's really the little, every day things we need to remember to be thankful for and often forget.

As a parent, it's my job to instill a grateful heart in my children so this book was a great reminder for me as well as for them.

I like that it was whimsical and rhymed. I feel like my younger kids always pay more attention to these and almost try to guess what's coming next based on the patterns.

The illustrations are fun and busy, which I like because my kids really get involved looking at the pictures. This is one of those books where they would stop me from turning the page because the words were short but the pictures had a lot to look at.

With the holiday season approaching and Thanksgiving just months away; it's a great time to remind our kids, and ourselves, how to be Thankful!

I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. (Posted on 9/25/2015)

Review by Jackie

Overall Rating

Thankful by Eileen Spinelli is absolutely perfect for your little ones, especially as the temperatures are dipping and minds might be turning towards the holidays. Maybe my children are the only ones that are already thinking about wish lists and wants but I doubt it. I’m trying to be preemptive and get a jump start on the idea that seems to only come around in November.

I appreciate that this book shares about regular people that are thankful for the small things. It's a great book to read and start turning your children's minds towards thankfulness rather than selfishness. We will be reading this one again and again.

{I received a copy of this book as a part of the Z Blog Squad. All opinions are my own and no guarantees were made.} (Posted on 9/22/2015)

Review by April

Overall Rating

Fall is officially starting this week! There is a chill in the air each morning and sweatshirts are getting pulled out. Soon we will be prepping the turkey and getting all the fixings ready for Thanksgiving 2015!

I plan on sharing this book at Thanksgiving this year! There is so much to be thankful for and I like how Eileen took different careers and wrote down how they are thankful. The rhyming is also perfect and keeps the younger children engaged.

My kids are 4 and almost 8 and this book was perfect for them both! The pictures are great and I loved discussing the different people introduced in the story and what they are thankful for. It makes transitioning into listing what we are thankful for simple and then led to us praying and thanking God for all the wonderful things he blesses us with. (Posted on 9/20/2015)

Review by Mama Muse Me

Overall Rating

I received Thankful by Eileen Spinelli from Book Look Bloggers in return for my honest review. As the mom of a toddler -- and especially with Autumn and Thanksgiving around the corner -- the cover of Thankful caught my eye. The drawings inside, by Archie Preston (who, according to his bio on the back flap, used to be a stunt double!), were whimsical and went well with the writing.

As a poet, Spinelli has an eye for the little things in this world that make people thankful. She writes about what makes different people thankful, including a waitress, news reporter, gardener, fireman, crafter, children, and others. The phrasing is simplistic enough that young children will be able to follow the concept.

I thought the book was beautiful and well-written, even though I don't think my son, who is two, would be quite ready for it. The recommended ages are 4-8, so that makes sense. The reason I think my son would not be ready for it yet is that the book does not have his favorite things that keep him interested in a book -- trucks, trains, tractors, and action. He would look at the illustrations and probably point objects that he recognizes like birds, cats, and water. When he gets a little older, I think he would like it. I wish the book had started out with things children are thankful for rather than immediately starting with an adult perspective (the waitress and the news reporter), even though the illustrations do show children dressed up and playing those roles.